Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-06-04
IT SAVED HIS LIFE.
REMARKABLE SURGICAL FEAT AT
 THE CINCINNATI HOSPITAL.
Three Inches of a Mans Backbone Re- moved-ParaIysis and Disease DisaP- pear and the Patient Reeovers-Details of the Operation.


 of the Operation.
 Ono of the rarcst and most dangerous operations in the whole scope of surgery has latgl, b,u performed at the Cincinnati hos pi,al It consisted in removing about three inches of the backbone and exposing the spinal cord. The patient was young col ored man about 2l years of age. When first admitted to the hospital he was u.Tsriu.. from q terrible disease which hal broken out over the head, neck and back ln tho form of large abscesses, the chief ono or which was about the middle of the back, and hal eaten away tho backbone Co a con-lCe-'- able extent The poor fellow couli not lis in the recumbeut posture nor on his slIe ln cous-uueuce of the extreme pain attcu..lIs sucn a rosition. and was comp-il,l Co i4- all the while on his face. Slowly hr hal la-t the power of motion and cd ss'u-sflIu lI hi, legs. SD that he was completely paIa.yzed from the bOly down. He could neither -.5 nor stand and could only move himself II bel with assistance. Thus terribly ai.llcte. he bore his suTerin-s with for;itUCa worthy an older man than be aul was very cheerful wi.hal Internal treatment hal no effect whatever. and then it bgcaIEe ne'ts- sary to explore the absrlsses-
 On puu,,uriug tle ons on the back some offensive pu, cs-lpcl and on introducing Che finger tl- dead auI decaycl bone colal br plainly felt It was deciled that his only chance ot liir lay in an operation for the re- muyal of a uart of the backbone SD aS Co ...l ca. pgorls, Jf decay. The oper,,-ion a-i l.s dangers were lail before the young man, alI m the fac, of it all hc resolved tO uuie--u the hazardous trial, aS It wa, a choice b'- tween life and death. Hc had was-c,l away into a mere skeleton. and his t~emi.l-. enaciatei form s,emel scarcely abe % endure such a terrible ordeal The patient vas p,acci on the table and given ether until he was sound asleep. IL was then turned on his face auI the p,Iclsy surgeon made an incisi1n right down ou the spine. A large quantity at puS was revealed, aal the cavity weS spouscl out c.trefri-y in o-ll-r co sec just where tho kui' was going.
 WITH CHsEr NSD HA'I,rEE.
 In thi, rc-iou. when, on, slip of the knife o. one false move w0u.l Lay- hsea fatal tp the patient. the surgeon with a c--yl and hammer went down ol tle bono u-.l he cut cut all that which was ia any vay u..,ct-.l, never touching the spinal cord There lar -he white shining cord 60 the bottom of tho wound in all i-s pristiua beauty. and Eo, scratch marred its surface. Tho operator smiled with complai-aucc when Ic saw how nicely he hal accomplished his purp0zr w.,l- out an evil He had removed tho cau>. ,i the suppurati0u. hence the abscess woUlI ui-- appear He hal also removed the c8u-' ol the paralysis. aul felt assured power wo-.l now return Co the para y1-l le-s. ant ma-. than all be know tiue would accomplish tae filling up ths Pilce where rhe bone hal for merly been.
 The patient reacted from the ether auI was placed iu b-j ol his fac.. In three days motion returned Go the legs, and Le ws- able Co move Eis feet the first time in nearly year. About the same time sensation began co return in the limbs In abou. three weeks he could bear some weight uu hi, legs. and at tLi, time he assUmed the position on his breast and knee, which Ee has kept ever since. lu this strange posture he sleeps for hours seemingly as well as tE. other patients about him He Gt length ba- came strong enough Co stand. with assist ance, and take a step OF two. He l. now able Co walk Co the end uf the ward and -.t down in a chair with comfort or course his back i, vet weak aui probably will never regain is former power, but hr will b. a useful mIu. Tho wound has gyajuslv closed up. leaving only slight Soar, euI causes him little or no pain. His aruet.-. has returueI auI he eats as much gs l labor ing man. and is fl- and hearty. ! Enquirer.